Gage block



Aug 1965 J. c. BELL ETAL 3,201,873

GAGE BLOCK Filed May 29, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 w n 1 F I? 25 26 y 5; 58 17 BELLNED V 50 w 1965 J. c. BELL ETAL 3,201,873

GAGE BLOCK Filed May 29, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS fa/776s C. Bell 620 P96 Emmi/21am:

United States Patent 3,201,873 GAGE BLOCK James C. Bell, 92 High View Drive, and George H. Horstmann, 88 Raven Terrace, both of Stratford, Conn. Filed May 29, 1963, Ser. No. 284,058 Claims. (Cl. 33-168) 7 This invention relates to small gages intended to replace scales and the like in effecting different settings of equipment, and more particularly to devices of this type which are in the form of blocks having contoured surfaces arranged for engagement with cooperable parts of'a machine such as a saw or router to set the same for establishing the desired dimensions.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved gage block for the above purpose, wherein there'is provided a graduated stepped gaging edge so arranged as to be usable for a number of different setting operations, said block having a construction such that it may be readily cast or molded to effect an economical fabrication.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved gage block as above set forth, which has an additional graduated stepped gaging edge correlated with the first such edge and adapted to enable additional different setting operations to be conveniently effected, all without appreciably increasing the fabrication cost.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved gage block in accordance with the foregoing, wherein simplified marking means are provided to enable longitudinal center scribing of different-sized pieces of lumber to be easily and quickly done.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of a novel gage block as outlined, which by virtue of the plurality of different setting operations made possible, is extremely versatile while at the same time retaining the utmost simplicity.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a novel gage as outlined, wherein dependence is not had on moving parts to effect the setting but instead the gaging structures comprise a one-piece or monolithic block.

Other features of the invention reside in the provision of a gage block as characterized, which is readily fabricated either as a plastic molding or else as a metal casting,

which may be withdrawn from simple inexpensive mold or die cavities without difficulty or involvement, and which requires the least amount of finishing or subsequent operations after the initial forming.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings accompanying this specification, similar characters of reference are used to designate like components throughout the several views, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the novel gage block as provided by the invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the left edge of the gage block, considering FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the right edge of the gage block, considering FIG. 1.

b FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the uppermost the gage block, considering FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the lowermost edge of the gage block, considering FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the gage block.

FIG. 7 is a pictorial representation illustrating the use of the gage block in setting the ripfence or guide of a circular (table) saw.

FIG. 8 is a pictorial illustration illustrating the use of the gage block in setting for the depth of cut of a circular (table) saw.

FIG. 9 is a pictorial representation illustrating the edge of center scribing of a piece of lumber by means of the gage block.

FIG. 10 is a pictorial representation illustrating the setting of a router cutter for height and depth of cut.

FIG. 11 is a pictorial representation showing another procedure for setting the cutter of a router.

Referring first to FIGS. 16, the gage block of the invention is shown as being in the form of a relatively thick slab of generally rectangular configuration having two squared adjoining corner portions 20 and 22 characterized by a total of four faces 24, 26, 28 and 30. A first set of two of said faces, namely the faces 24, 26 are normal to each other and are common to both of the said corner portions 20, 22. The said faces 24, 26 are also normal respectively to the second or remaining set of two faces 28, 30 and the latter are in parallelism with each other. The face 28 is of rectangular configuration and generally considered as the upper or top face of the gage block, whereas the face 30 is L-shaped and considered to comprise a lower or bottom face of the block.

Preferably, as shown, the gage block also has three additional generally L-shaped bottom faces 32, 34 and 36, all four bottom faces being disposed respectively at the four corners of the block. The bottom faces 30, 32, 34 and 36 may be considered as comprising surfaces of the foot portions of the block, inasmuch as said surfaces are separated by four wide spaces 38, 40, 42 and 44 for a purpose which will be later explained.

It will be noted that the top surface 28 of the block, which is virtually of square configuration, is disposed at the thickest corner portion of the block.

In accordance with the invention, the gage block has a stepped gaging face designated generally by the numeral 46, said gaging face being disposed opposite the edge face 26 and comprising alternate shoulder surfaces 48 and land surfaces 50 disposed normal to each other and respectively parallel to the one edge face 26 and to the two parallel faces 28, 30. Preferably each of the lands 50 has a width of one-quarter inch, and the lands may be provided with dimensional indications as shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with this and other figures involving the thickness of the steps. Each of the shoulders 48 preferably has a width of one-eight inch, whereby the height of the block, i.e. the dimension between the faces 28, 30 is of an inch when six shoulders are involved.

By the above organization the gage block may be readily accurately used to set a rip fence or guide of a circular (table) saw, Within close limits and in one-eighth inch steps up to A of an inch; This is illustrated in FIG. 7, for instance. Also, the height of a router cutter may be set, using the stepped gaging face 46 in a manner depicted in FIG. 11. Or, the depth ofcut of a circular saw may be set in one-eighth inch steps up to A of an inch by utilizing the block in the manner shown in FIG. 1. I

Further, in accordance with the invention, an additional graduated or stepped gaging edge designated generally by the numeral 54 is provided on the gage block, being cor-- related with the first gaging face 46 and being adapted to enable additional different setting operations to be conveniently effected, without appreciably increasing the fabrication cost of the block. The gaging face 54 is located generally opposite the edge face 24 of the block, and has shoulder surfaces 56 and land surfaces 58 which are respectively parallel to the edge surface 24 and to the upper and lower surfaces 28, 30 of the block. The shoulder surfaces 56 are also normal to the shoulder surfaces 48. Alternate ones of the land surfaces 58 are continuationsof and lie in the same plane as respective adjoining land surfaces 50. Each of the remaining alternate land surfaces 58 is disposed midway between two adjoining land surfaces of the set.

" Y Y Y ,3,2o1,s73

Preferably the width of each of the shoulder surfaces 56 is 1 A ofian inch, and since there. are twelve such shoulder surfaces shown, this would evenly divide a block which is made of'an inch thick The'width of each of the 7 land surfaces 58 is preferably {/5 'of'aniinch, and accord-3 ingly gaging in li inch and A; inch steps are made-possible by the provision of ,thestepped gaging face 54, the" ,block being used in a manner 'similar to that; described, 7 generally intonn'ection withthe stepped gaging fa ce4 6. ,10, toset the cutter knife in a router. -.Tl1 e;depth of cut of V the router knifemay also he set, bysuitable positioningi In FIG. 10 the st epped gaging face SAisshownas utilized of the gage block, as will be readily understood,

The lands 58 of the gagingjface 54 may; be provided FIG/1. i. e a

with dimensional indicia or other numbers as indicated in Further, in accordance with fthe invention, the I gage? block is provided with means by which longitudinal cen ter scribing .off different-sized pieces of lumber may be easily and quickly effected; In' accomplishing this, the: spaces"38,.4(l, 42.andv44 are utilized. The spaces 38 and 1 42, being o pposite each other, are madeto; havethe same 0 Width measured between the pairs of leg portions having the surfaces 30, '32fand 34 36. Such; width may, for f example, be 1 /8 inches whereby a piece of ,1' dressed lumber vmay be'accommodated therein. Similarly,..the

spaces 40 and44f'may have a widthtof $732 of an inch to accommodate one inchlumber; The block is vprovided with two scribing points or projections 62 and 64 disposed respectively ;in ,the spaces 38 and 44, being centrally applied to cause one of the scribingprojections to-mark theedgefln w I tvIt will'now 1 other adjustable setting cuttingtools,

Variationsfand modifications maybe made within the he claims, I and 'poitions of the improvemen maybe used without others'.,; m? e f 1; A: gage jcomprising af'relatively small'blockfadapted to'fit into 'the handj and to be conveniently;handledand pos dga ns f t n o l: nd 'w kj u de, a dl block having two} squared 'adjoining co rner portions char.

'acterized by a total of four faces, a first setof two-ofsaid j faces being normal to'each-other and commontoibothoffl I said corner portions; said twoi faces.being talsonormal" irespectivelytok'a second for; remaining" setlof two tfaces and; the latter-being:- in sparallelismfsaid block 'liavingia stepped; gaging face-disposed opposite ne of SaidL'fir's t V i mentioned. two faces, said gaging faceicomprising alt nate shoulder surfacesga'nd landsurfaces?disposed-normal to eaeh fo'then and respectivelyjparallehto said one' face and to said rema'ining two'f A (g) Thsi vsk has e s s:

30 located therein .",The useofvthe'blocl; in centerscribingla-g piece of lumber is depicated' in F lG.- -9, the block being pulled along the edgeof' the lumber while pressure. is being be readily understood from the-foregoing, '7 that the gage block as provided bythis inven tion' is'ex-i.

tremely'simple in con'structiomthe gaging structure being entirely in. one piece or monolithic. 'Thelgage block may, be hollow at ,its undersidegthereby;,to enable it to be, economically, readily molded of plastic substance, Q or, cast of metal. The hollowtportion 'ofthe block may be pro 'l vided with a cover plate 66, whereby the enclosed-space maycontain usefularticles such as a coiled steel tape or; ruler, or the like, Because the blockhas-no undercut V e to the first-mentionedgaging face and provided with alternate shoulders and lands'disposed normal .to each other andrespectively parallel to the 'other'of said'first-mentioned twofaces and to said remaining wo c j a. a I

1 '(b) alternate landsrof one of said gaging faces are ;t paired with consecutive landsfofthe other gaging I 'faceg said paired lands comprising single continuous coplanar-surfaceif f f' v i j (c) the seeio'n asmg'iace ha substantially twice the fnurnberof shoulders as the first-mentioned gaging -face,=r y 1 z (d) eachtshoulder of the afirst;mentioned'gaging face 7 meets two shouldersrof the second gaging facefand .7 (e) the. second-gaging face; has substantially twice the 'nurnberoflands' as the ,first me'ntioned; gaging face.-

,2, A gage comprising a; relatively small block'adapted toflfit'into the hand and tojbe convenientlyhandled and positioned againsya,cutting tooland work guide, said 20" faces beingnormal to1eachj'other and common to both of said corner portions, said two faces being also normal reespectively to a second or remaining 'set of two faces and gaging face disposed opposite one of said first-mentioned two faces, Saidgaging face comprising alternateshoulder surfaces and land surfaces disposedv normal to each other, face anditosaid tree.

. and respectively parallel to said one mainingtwo faces, wherein: 1 V

: to the first-mentioned gaging'facefand provided with alternate' shoulders and; .lands :disposed normal to each other; and respectivelyparallel to the, other of .said first-mentioned two face 1 surfaces,

f j (c) one of said secondgtwo faces:constitutes apportion of the base surface of the block, a j

i "(d the other of said second two faces has substantially f a square configuration and a size;constituting a small jfractional part of the basesu'rface ofthe'block, T '(e) is aid one of the second-two faces'is ofsubstantially w 'fr'actionalportion'ofthe'said'base'surface, t

' '(f) .thefbloclijhas additionalil iraised portions of they said a s r r a 5' if i--. blocl mayrestp;

:(h) the base surface ofthe rectangular, (i) four raisedportionszare provided on the base sur- H, face ofthel block; one,at each'gcornerthereof,.

harp: tooth-isprovidedz'onthe base-surface of the bloclc', -disposed at/oneiedge' thereof andbetween a pair"oflraisedportions; 'said tooth being adapted to I iinark pieces ,of lumber when fthe rblock'fis shifted p air oflirais'ed portions,

*fsaid different pair,of'raisedeportions, 1

'date apiece oflumber of another -A gag asinfclaim 3;.whereinz e p;

block having two squared adjoining corner portions char-' acterized'by a ftotalof four faces a first setof twofof said the latter being inparallelism, said block havingastepped (a) I the block has, 'a' second, stepped gaging facesimilar;

two faces and to said remaining 'Ab) lands er the said gagingffaceshare paired; said a paired lands cornprisingsingle continuous coplanar square configurationrandconstitutes a raised small (g) said raised feet onfwhich the along ethesame with the pieces guided. between the :(a')' .a second sharp toothlisiprovided' onithe -base sur-- along 'the same'lfwith the piece slfgiiided between t 0 id., et m nea em f r i di porfibnh m a ,j} a spacing'whichdsditferentifrom that of the said dif v rempair of raised portions, thereby oac'cornmo a an of' the raised portions r the ease ear'iac fare J 5 '6 5. A gage as in claim 4 wherein: tween said difierent pair of raised portions, thereby (a) the base surface of the block has a difierent pair of to accommodate pieces of lumber of a different size.

spaced raised portions between which pieces of lumber may be guided References Cited by the Examiner (b) said different pair of raised portions having a spac- UNITED STATES PATENTS ing which iS difierent from that Of the first-mentioned 1 1 9 1 1 Carter 33 42 p of raised portions, and 2,536,401 1/51 victor 33 .168 (c) a second sharp tooth is provided on the base sur face of the block at another edge thereof and be- ISAAC LISANN, Primary Examiner. 

2. A GAGE COMPRISING A RRELATIVELY SMALL BLOCK ADAPTED TO FIT INTO THE HAND AND TO BE CONVENIENTLY HANDLED AND POSITIONED AGAINST THE CUTTING TOOL AND WORK GUIDE, SAID BLOCK HAVING TWO SQUARED ADJOINING CORNER PORTIONS CHARACTERIZED BY A TOTAL OF FOUR FACES, A FIRST SET OF TWO OF SAID FACES BEING NORMAL TO EACH OTHER AND COMMON TO BOTH OF SAID CORNER PORTIONS, SAID TWO FACES BEING ALSO NORMAL RESPECTIVELY TO A SECOND OR REMAINING SET OF TWO FACES AND THEE LATTER BEING IN PARALLELISM, SAID BLOCK HAIVNG A STEPPED GAGING FACE DISPOSED OPPOSITE ONE OF SAID FIRST-MENTIONED TWO FACES, SAID GAGING FACE COMPRISING ALTERNATE SHOULDER SURFACES AND LAND SURFACES DISPOSED NORMAL TO EACH OTHER AND RESPECTIVELY PARALLEL TO SAID ONE FACE AND TO SSAID REMAINING TWO FACES, WHEREIN; (A) THE BLOCK HAS A SECOND STEPPED GAGING FACE SIMILAR TO THE FIRST-MENTIONED GAGING FACE AND PROVIDED WITH ALTERNATE SHOULDERS AND LANDS DISPOSED NORMAL TO EACH OTHER ANND RESPECTIVELY PAKRALLEL TO THE OTHER OF SAID FIRST-MENTIONED TWO FACES AND TO SAID REMAINING TWO FACES, (B) LANDS OF THE SAID GAGING FACES ARE PAIRED, SAID PAIRED LANDS COMPRISING SINGLE CONTINUOUS COPLANAR SURFACES, (C) ONE OF SAID SECOND TWO FACES CONSTITUTES A PORTION OF THE BASE SURFACE OF THE BLOCK, 